Lubricating apparatus



Dec. 19, 1933. F 5 BARKS 1,939,943

LUBRIGATING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1950 Patented Dec. 19, 1933 LUBRICATIN G APPARATUS Frank S. Barks, St. Louis, Mo. Application May 19, 1930. Serial N0. 453,664

1 Claim.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus, and with regard to certain more specific features, to automatic and portable apparatus for pumping heavy, viscous or semi-viscous material such as grease, putty and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provisions of a portable grease gun having an air motor as part of the gun, said motor having a manual control and acting continuously when put linto operation, as distinguished from intermittent motor action requiring a separate manual operation for each ejection of grease; the provision of a grease gun of the class described wherein repeated ejection of grease is effected at high pressures; the provision of a device of the class described which may be readily filled and which operates positively and dependably; and the provision of apparatus of the class described which has said features in a compact and rugged form of light weight. Other objects will bein part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

'Ihe invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a left .end view of the apparatus, certain parts being broken away; and,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section showing details of a valve.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. .1, there is illustrated at numeral 1 a body which is suitably cored to provide the passages and/or chambers to be described hereinafter. This body 1 is provided with a cap 3, the latter having a longitudinal extension 5 forming an air passage and grip for the hand of an operator. Attached to the base of the cylinder 1 is a grease supply chamber or cylinder 7 which extends substantially parallel to and longitudinally below the .grip 5. An outlet line 9, preferably of the iiexible type, is fastened to said body 1, this outlet having a suitable coupling member 11, for fastening the same to fittings and the like, on

5 apparatus which is to be greased. A preferably lower piston 59 which flexible air line 13 supplies air to the hollow interior of the grip 5.

In detail, the grip 5 includes an air strainer 15 at the inlet and an outlet port 17, said port 17 communicating with a spring seated, line valve 19. The seating action of spring 21 is aided by the pressure of the air in the grip 5. The valve 19 includes a stem 23 having a suitable sealing gasket 25 and an outward extension 27. 'Ihe outward extension 27 is engageable by a trigger 29 which is operable by the finger of an operator whose hand encircles the grip 5. 'I'he trigger is pivoted at pin 31 on the cap 3.

Passage of air through the port 17 is controlled by the valve 19, which in turn is controlled by the trigger 29. When the valve 19 is open, air passes from said port 17 to a passage 33 leading to an automatic, full-stroke valve in the cap 3. This valve will be explained in detail hereinafter. Y

By means of said automatic, full-stroke valve, in the cap 3, air is intermittently forced behind a. piston 35 which rides in a cylinder 37 formed interiorly of the body 1. This air is also intermittently exhausted by means of this valve from behind said piston 35, the piston being returned to an initial position by means of a compression spring 39 positioned behind it in the cylinder 37, this spring 39 reacting against a pump bushing 43 in one end of said cylinder 37.

The piston 35 is provided with a plunger 41 which is reciprocable in the pump bushing 43, the said bushing 43 having an inlet passage 45 in communication with said supply chamber or cylinder 7, a suitable strainer or screen 47 being held across said passage by an anchored washer 2. A spring-pressed outlet check valve 49 is used as an outlet from the bore'51 of the pump bushing 43. On the down-stream side of the check valve 49 is an outlet passage 53 communieating with said flexible line 9.

There is also on the down-stream side of this check valve 49 a release valve 55 which servesA the purpose, by opening, of relieving or releasing air pockets, should the device lose its prime because of such pockets. This valve can be opened manually and closed in the same manner.

Referring now more particularly to the cylinder 7, it will be seen that it is threaded at its base- 57 for manually screwing it to and uncorrespondingly threaded 7 is provided with a folrides slidably in the cylon a locking rod 61.l A

screwing it from the body 1. This cylinder inder 7 and also slides spring 63 normally reacts from the outer head 65 of the cylinder '7 against the vfollower 59, tending to press said follower toward the body 1 and to force grease in the cylinder '7 to the inlet 45 of the pump. Atmospheric pressure on the follower 59 aids this action, on the suction stroke of said pump.

A laterally movable latch 6'7 is positioned in the head 65 of the cylinder '7, normally pressed by a spring 69 against the rod 61. The rod 61 is provided with a groove '71 adapted to be cooperated with by the latch 6'7 when the rod 61 is withdrawn from the cylinder '7. Withdrawal may be made by handle '73. A head in the form of a nut '75 is used on the opposite end of the rod 61 for abutting the follower 59 when the rod 61 is withdrawn, so that the follower may, when it is placed near the head 65 of the cylinder '7, be there held by co-operation of the latch 67 with the recess of notch or groove '71.

Referring now to the automatic valve in the cap 3, it will be seen to comprise a control stem '76 having a loose or self-aligning attachment with the piston 35, said attachment comprising a cross pin '7'7 in the stem located within a recess '79 in the piston, the stem '76 passing loosely through an opening communicating with said recess '79.. By this means, the stem '76 and piston 35 need not be absolutely concentric when assembled and still the piston can operate the stem.

The stem '76 passes through a packing gland 81, said gland 81 being aixed to a stationary ported sleeve 83, said sleeve 83 being forced into the cap 3. This sleeve 83 is provided with oppositely disposed inlet ports 85, one of which is in communication with the passage 33 and the other with that part of the cylinder 1 which is above the piston 35. These inlet ports 85 are adapted to be put into communication with one another by a groove 8'7 of a central slidable sleeve 89, located in the fixed sleeve 83 (Fig. 1). The ports 85 are also adapted to be cut out of communication with one another by said sleeve 89 when the sleeve is in the alternative position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the sleeve 89, by reason of the alignment of its groove 8'7 with the ports 85, is permitting air to pass in behind the piston 35 'to force the same down, against the reaction of the spring 39. This causes the plunger 41 of the pump to make a pumping stroke, thus forcing grease from the apparatus.

The stationary sleeve 83 is also provided with outlet ports 91, the lower one of which communicates with that part of the cylinder 3'7 which is above the piston 35, and the upper one of which communicates with an exhaust port 93 in the cap 3.

At its upper reaches the movable sleeve 89 is provided with grooves 95 which communicate one with the other sleeve 89 is smaller in diameter at, between, and

above said groove than it is below said groove.

Below the groove the sleeve 89 exactly fits the sleeve 83 for slidingand sealing contact, Whereas above and between said grooves 95, the sleeve is cut down. Thus, when the sleeve 89 is in its downward position (Fig. 3), the ports 91 are in communication by wayof the grooves 95 and said cut-down portion.

' The grooves 95 are also used in co-operation with a pair of detents shown in Fig. 2. These detents comprise balls 91 pressed by springs 99,

grasping and pulling out a' by reason of the fact that the said springs reacting against hollow acorn nuts 101, the nuts 101 being threaded into the cap 3. It will be seen that these detents 9'7 function to hold the movable sleeve 89 in predetermined upper and lower positions. In the upper position of the sleeve 89, the inlet ports 85 are put into communication by the groove 8'7 (Fig. 1) In the lower position of the sleeve 89 the exhaust ports 91 are put into communication by the space between the sleeves 83, 89 (Fig. 3).

The method of automatically operating the.,

movable sleeve 89 to reciprocate is by means of said stem '76. The stem '76 is provided with spaced attached shoulders 103, that part of the stem '76 between said shoulders 103 passing slidably through a reduced opening in an inward shoulder 105 of the sleeve 89. Loose, slidable springs 10'7 are positioned over the stem '76 and between the shoulders 103 on said collar and shoulder 105. The upper end o the valve, including the upper end of the stem '76 is positively enclosed by an acorn nut 109.

The operation is as follows, starting from the Fig. 1 position:

Air underpressure enters from the line 13 and passes through the grip 5. If the trigger 29 is not pressed, said air is stopped at the valve 19.

When the trigger 29 is pressed, the valve 19 is opened and air passes from the grip 5 through ports 1'7, passage 33 one of said openings 85, groove 87, the other of said openings 85 and behind the piston 35, drivingsaid piston 35 down in its cylinder` to cause the plunger 41 to effect, a stroke and eject a charge of grease out through the check valve 49 and through line 9 to the tting in connection with the coupling 11.

As the piston 35 is driven down, it draws the stem 76 because of the co-operation at pin '77. After some movement this causes the upper shoulder 103 on the stem rI6 to engage the upper spring 10'7 and compress the same. The spring 107 has such a tension that it will compress to same degree before moving the movable sleeve 89. In fact, the piston 35 can almost reach the end of its stroke (take a full stroke) before the upper spring 10'7 is compressed enough to effect a motion of such sleeve 89. However, when the sleeve 89 does move, it moves quickly and completely. When movement takes place, it, like the piston movement, is a full stroke movement, wherein the detent 97 becomes positioned in the upper one of said pair of grooves 95.

As the movable sleeve 89 changes its position, the inlet ports 85 are put out of communication (see Fig. 3) and the exhaust ports 91 -are put into communication by the grooves 95 and the reduced portion between them. Immediately, the reaction of the spring 39 takes effect to raise the piston 35 and plunger 41, thereby causing another charge of cylinder 51 from the cylinder '7. This also results in the stem '79 being lifted'as air is-exhausted from the piston 35. After some movement, the lower spring 107, taken into connection with the detents 9'7, has the same delayed grease to enter the plunger passage 33, said air tion interiorly of the stem ratus comprises an improvement in the art, because there is provided a portable grease gun having an air motor which will continue operation as long as the trigger is held in open position. 'I'his is an advantage over those pieces of apparatus wherein the trigger must be pressed each time that a stroke of the pump is effected. This feature elects a great saving in time and energy.

The advantageous arrangement of the grip 5, parallel to the supply cylinder 7, taken in connection with the lateral arrangement of the pump plunger and valve, results in an exceedingly compact device of light weight. The loca- 76 also conserves space and provides a fully enclosed structure of neat appearance and trouble-proof characteristics. The whole device may be held in one hand and the trigger manipulated therewith while the other hand effects connections by means of the coupling 11. v

In order that the valve in the head 3 may be oiled, I provide a chamber 108 lled with a felt wick, or the like 1.10, enclosed by a cap 111. A chamber 113 is formed below the felt or the like 110 and in this chamber is located a loosely tting disc or slug 115. This disc 115 normally seals off an opening 117 in communication with the passage `33. However, when the trigger 29 is pressed and air is permitted to ow into the presses the disc against the felt or the like 109. The felt is oil soaked and the pressure of the disc 115 against the same results in squeezing out some oil which flows down the narrow passage 117 and into the passage 33,

whence it is carried into the valve and valve chamber and lubricates the same. Whenever the Valve cuts off the ow of air, the disc 115 drops down again and closes the passage. Thus at each stroke of the valve, the action of the air itself causes a slight amount of oil to bev exuded into the air, to lubricate the parts. Some of this oil also nds its way down into the main cylinder inwhich the piston operates. It will be noted in this connection that the stem 76, as well as the other parts of the valve are fully enclosed by the nut 109 and thus the oil is not lost on each stroke and very little is required. This feature also results in no air beingsubstantially lost by leakage before it gets behind the piston 35.

From the above, it will be seen that as the grease is received from the cylinder 7 and compressed by the pump that the follower 59 in the cylinder 7v forces the grease. After all of the grease has been used from the chamber or cylinder 7 (about a pound) the cylinder 7 is easily relled. This is done by unscrewing the cylinder 7 from the body 1 and pressing the same downwardly into a mass of grease. This causes the follower 59 to compress the spring 63 and travel to the head end of the cylinder 7.

`be of the order After the cylinder 7 has been completely filled, the stem 61 is retracted by pulling on the handle 73. .When the latch 67 is reached by the recess 71, the latch drops into said recess and holds the stem 61. At this time the head is against the follower 59. Thus the cylinder, which is now full of grease, may be removed from the supply of grease and screwed into the body 1. There, after, the latch 67 is released and the rod 61 is pressed into the cylinder 7. The rod 6l is thus out of the way. As soon as the rod 6l is put into the inward position described, the follower 59 becomes active against the grease and pushes the same out of the cylinder 7 under the action of the expansion of spring 63. The apparatus is then ready for use to deliver grease upon pressure of the trigger 59.

Attention is called to the relationship between the areaof the piston 35 and the area of the plunger 4l. These are arranged so that a multiplication of pressure is effected-on the grease being pumped as compared to the pressure of the air used. For instance, the area ratio may of 20 to 1 so that with 100 pounds per square inch of air pressure, about 2000 pounds per square inch'pressure may be effected upon the grease, making due allowance vfor the eiciency of the mechanism.V

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the, accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In apparatus of adapted to be supported in one hand, a lubricant supply chamber associated with the gun, an outlet line, a reciprocating pump adapted to withdraw lubricant from said supply chamber and deliver the same to said outlet line, a starting valve having a passage leading from the air supply to the pump, a valve gear 'located in the passage between the starting valve and-the pump. the actions of the valve gear and pump being coordinated so as to effect continuous reciprocation of the pump when said starting valve is held open, the center line of the supply chamber and of the pump being arranged at a substantial right angle, said valve gear comprising a valve stem arranged substantially concentric with the center line of the pump, a sleeve Surrounding said stem, said sleeve being supported to control air fluid to the pump, and a lost motion engaging means between said stem and said sleeve.

FRANK S. BARKS. 

